SBY Returns to Politics post Wife Ani Yudhoyono's Passing

TEMPO.CO, Bogor - Democrat Party chair Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) will return to talk about politics and his party affairs on Thursday, July 11. The party secretary-general Hinca Pandjaitan said that the chairman will hold a meeting with the party regional boards (DPD) across Indonesia.

“DPD heads and secretaries presenting tonight will discuss the party issue tomorrow (July 11),” said Hinca after the 40th-day memorial event of Ani Yudhoyono in Puri Cikeas, Bogor, West Java, Wednesday, July 10.

Several party elites previously said that the chairman would temporarily refrain from talking about politics following the passing of his wife Kristiani Herrawati or Ani Yudhoyono.

According to Hinca, the meeting will address the party internal issues, and the chairman may not touch on the party’s next position after the 2019 presidential election; joining the government or staying in the coalition of Prabowo Subianto as the opposition.

“For sure, he will begin by talking about the party internal,” Hinca said.

The political stands of the Democrat Party after the election attracted public since it often reportedly experiencing internal polemic. A number of cadres had many times criticized Prabowo - Sandiaga despite the fact that the party endorsed the candidate pair.

There are also rumors that Democrat party initially planned to join the incumbent coalition, Jokowi - Ma’ruf.

After the presidential election completed, Democrat party were widely issued to change its political direction considering SBY's eldest son Agus Harimurto Yudhoyono, who is also the head of the party's Joint Task Force Command (Kogasma), met President Jokowi at least three times.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI

Read also: Ani Yudhoyono's 40th Day Memorial to be Held Tonight in Cikeas